Electrical musical instrument.



Patented Sept. 3, I901.

R. L. VENUTO. ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Agplicntion filed Aug. 7, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROCCO L. YENUTO, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 681,939, datedSeptember 3, 1901.

Application filed August '7, 1900. Serial No. 26,119. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, Rocco L.VENUTO, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Electrical Musical Instrument, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical musical instruments of that classembracing a number of electromagnetic bells and keys electricallyconnected to said bells to operate the same; and it consists in certainnovel and peculiar features of construction and organization of parts,as is hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to produce an instrument of the typementioned which possesses the desirable features of simplicity,durability, and cheapness of construction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a View with the face-plate omittedto show the arrangement of the bells. Fig. 2 is a vertical centralsection of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing a bell and akey in circuit with the battery and the resistance or rheostat, and saidfigure also shows a footpedal for operating said rheostat. Fig. 4 is aview showing a key-operated local-circuit mechanism for operating therheostat.

Similar parts throughout the several views are identified bycorresponding reference characters.

1 designates a casing or frame of any suitable or preferred form,material, and ornamentation.

2 designates electromagnetic bells, of the continuously-ringing type,secured to or in the casing in any suitable manner and representing thevarious tones of the chromatic scale. In toy instruments eight bells,representing the various tones of the chromatic scale, will, perhaps, besufiicient. In large instruments, however, it will be preferable toemploy sufficient bells to cover from two and one=half octaves upward.

3 designates an electric battery having its positive pole connected by aconductor 4 and branch conductors 5 and 6 to the electromagnetic bells2, and leading from said bells are conductors 7, said conductors beingeach electrically connected at its opposite end to a contact 8 of apiano-key 9, each key being normally held inoperative by a retractilespring 10 or its equivalent. Below the key-contacts 8 is a contact-strip11, mounted on posts 12 or otherwise supported, and electricallyconnecting said contact 11 to the negative pole of the battery is aconductor 13, the arrangement being such that the depression of a keycompletes a circuit, in which is located the bell to produce the tonedesired.

In practical or full-sized machines it will be necessary to provide fora variation in the volume of sound produced in order to play anyparticular piece of music properly. I

accomplish this object by throwing more or stat, the same being numbered14 and preferably of that type embodying a plurality of contacts 15 forsuccessive engagement by a contact-lever 16, said rheostat being locatedon the conductor 13. The lever 16 is provided with a supplemental arm17, having in Fig. 3 a pin-and-slot connection, as at 18, to the pedal19, said pedal having its forward end normally elevated by means of aspring 20, the result of which is to hold the lever 16 in engagementwith the rearmost contact 15, which contact may represent the greatestamount of resistance to the current, and thereby insure the minimumvolume of sound as long as the pedal is thus elevated. By depressingsaid pedal the contact-lever 16 is thrown forward, and as itsuccessively passes from one contact 15 to the other the volume of soundis gradually increased. As soon as the pedal is released the spring 20restores the pedal to its original position and the tone, consequently,to its original volume.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be noticed that I provide a supplementalkey 9, piv oted, as at 9 to swing laterally, so as to throw thedepending contact 8 in or out of contact with the end of contact 11. Aconductor 21 connects the contact of the supplemental key 9 with onepole of the battery 22, the other pole of the battery being connected bya conductor 23 with contact 11, said contacts, conductors, and battery22 constituting a local circuit, and arranged in said circuit orconductor 23 is an electromagnet 24, armature of said magnet beingmounted, in this case, on the arm 17 of lever 16. When the local circuitis broken-that is, when contacts 8 and 11 are disengaged the spring 26holds arm 17 of the rheostatlever elevated and the least resistance isthrown in the path of the bell-circuits. When key 9 is operated to causethe engagement of contacts 8 and 11, the local circuit is-completed andmagnet 24 energized, with the result, of course, of attracting thearmature and automatically introducing into the bellcircuits a greaterresistance, this action, as stated, being followed by a diminution ofsound.

The character of the music produced by this instrument will be readilyunderstood, each tone being represented by the rapid intermittentsounding of an electromagnetic bell, the sound continuing as long as thekey 1. An electrical musical instrument, com-. prising a suitablecasing, a plurality of elec tromagnetic bells therein, an electricbattery, a conductor connecting one pole of the battery with each bell,a contact connected to the opposite pole of the battery, keys cor-.

responding in number to the bells, a conductor between each key and thebell representing the tone of said key, a contact 'for each key adaptedto contact w'iththe said contact connected to the battery, a resistanceor rheostat in said circuit, a local circuit including a source ofelectric energy, an electromagnet, and a pair of contacts, a key toplace said contacts in electrical engagement, an armature-carrying armfor operating the rheostat, and a spring to normally hold said armelevated when said local circuit is broken, substantially as described.

2. An electrical musical instrument, comprising a suitable casing, aplurality of electromagnetic bells therein, an electric battery, aconductor connecting one pole of the battery with-each bell, a contactconnected to the opposite poleof the battery, keys corresponding innumber to the bells, a conductor between each key and the bellrepresenting the tone of said key, a contact for each key adapted tocontact with said contact connected to the battery, a rheostat insaid'circuit, embodying a plurality of contact-points, and a lever tocontact successively with said vpoints, provided with an arm, a springengaging said arm, an armature carried by said arm, a local circuitincluding a source of electric energy, an electromagnet, and a pair ofcontacts and a key pivoted to work laterally and adapted to place saidcontacts in electrical engagement, all arranged substantially as and forthe purpose describedr In testimony whereof I affix my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

ROCCO L. VEN-UTO. Witnesses:

H. O. RODGERS, G. Y. THORPE.

